I saw a photograph that a friend had of her daughter and grand daughter and the emotional quality of the photo moved me very much.  I am usually inspired to paint a painting when there is an emotional quality that moves me.  It is more important than the balance or the movement or the colors working together.

I had an aunt who had a wonderful flower garden full of birds and butterflies.  She lived on Lake Huron and was married to a sea captain of an iron ore freighter.  Her name was Lilian and she came to this country all by herself  from Ireland when when was 18.  This lady doesn’t look like my aunt Lilian but this painting is for her.  She brought joy to everyone she met..

I was inspired to paint this cat because a friend had lost her husband and then her pets and she saw devastated.  Someone gave her this cat and it changed her life.

This painting was inspired by an elderly lady I saw in Cosco walking through the flower section.  I wish I’d taken a picture because this painting doesn’t do her justice.